There was plenty of low scoring on Friday, but it is Campbell who sits alone atop the leaderboard at Royal Port Moresby.
Searching for his first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia win after a string of top 10s last season, Campbell was one of six players to card a second-round 65 to move to 11 under, one shot ahead of James Conran (NSW).
New Zealander James Hydes is third at nine under, with Daniel Fox (WA) a further shot back.
West Australian Braden Becker heads a group of players tied for seventh at seven under after an albatross on the par-5 first hole kickstarted an incredible seven-under 30 on his second nine.
🚨🚨 ALBATROSS ALERT 🚨🚨— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) Braden Becker with the shot of his life to make 2 on the 555m Par 5, 1st hole at the #PNGOpen #TheChaseIsOn pic.twitter.com/7jFMcAUqYAAugust 16, 2024
Campbell enjoyed a breakout season on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia last summer, including six top-10 finishes, but a win eluded him and he ended the campaign in 14th on the Order of Merit."I got off to a good start and gave myself a lot of chances early," the 34-year-old said."Didn't quite make that many putts, but I managed to turn one under and then sort of just got on a run on the back nine."I feel like I'm in a great place with my game, a great place mentally. I know I'm good enough to win."Second-placed Conran's 65 included eight birdies with just one bogey at the par-4 seventh.Papua New Guinea amateur Morgan Annato fought hard in his national open, carding a one-under 71 to make the cut on the number at even par.
16°C